Societal role must for preservation, promotion of Dogri
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Former Minister Sham Lal Sharma, former MLA and senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana along with Chairman Team Jammu, Zorawar Singh Jamwal today released Dogri album “Jai Desh Dogra”-The Power of Dogra Dynasty- dedicated to last Dogra ruler of J&K, Maharaja Hari Singh.
The Dogri album that was released amid jam packed gathering of men, women and youth at Royal Estate Banquet, Toph Sherkhania Bridge here has been produced and presented by Team Jammu. The song has been written by eminent Dogri poet Randheer Singh Raipuria and sung by popular Dogri singers Sonali Dogra and Chaman Lehri with music composition by Sahil Nath, edited by Mohit Garg and directed by Rajesh Khajuria.
Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana who was the chief guest on the occasion while addressing large gathering, congratulated volunteers of Team Jammu for taking such initiatives in promoting Dogri language and culture and said “Dogra heritage encompasses the glorious past of the Duggarland, which stands tall for harmony and reconciliation that can be reclaimed by promoting Dogri language in a big way, as Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians were proud inheritors of the Dogra ethos.
Devender Rana said much onus lies on scholars and artists , the conscious keepers of the Dogra heritage, who can play their crucial role in promoting and propagating Dogri, reviving Duggar culture and bequeathing to posterity the sagas of valour scripted by the great warriors from times immemorial. Dwelling upon the history of duggarland, Devender Rana said that Duggarland is actually a Veerbhoomi that has produced great warriors and military heroes who have left indelible mark of bravery for posterity to emulate.
Referring to the popularity of Punjabi beyond regional and continental boundaries, the Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana said this has been possible because of the overwhelming support of the people, diasporas, film and music industry. Similarly, the Dogri language has to be promoted at a larger scale with sincerity of purpose by one and all, irrespective of region, religion or caste, he added.
Former Minister and Vice President BJP Sham Lal Sharma who presided over the function, in his address, brought attention to the growing reluctance among the youth to speak Dogri, attributing it to the pervasive influence of Western culture. He expressed genuine concern about the potential erosion of Dogra culture and emphasized the pivotal role of education in addressing and mitigating this concerning trend. “Promoting Dogri is not just a personal responsibility; it’s an effort that demands active participation from all quarters of society,” asserted Sharma. He urged cultural organizations, educational institutions, and community leaders to collaborate in organizing events that showcase the beauty of Dogri language and traditions. Going beyond individual efforts, Sharma proposed a more expansive approach to promoting Dogri-through cultural events and functions. He argued that these platforms could serve as catalysts for celebrating the linguistic and artistic richness of Dogri, fostering a collective sense of pride and ownership among the community. Sharma also acknowledged and appreciated the vigilant role of Team Jammu in addressing the menace of drugs and commended their active involvement in various cultural activities. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman, Team Jammu, Zorawar Singh Jamwal said that pro-active approach by intellectuals and artists in promoting Dogri is praiseworthy. He observed that perhaps it may be easy to deliver sermons and indulge in rhetoric about the promotion and preservation of the mother tongue but there is a need for a collective effort to work in this regard. Zorawar regretted that most of the people are shying away from making use of Dogri in their homes. Growing trend of ignoring the mother tongue in the mistaken belief of English and other languages seen as a sign of modernity is unfortunate, he said, adding that there should be an intense urge to learn other languages but not at the cost of mother tongue. Earlier, Law Student and volunteer of Team Jammu, Vasudev Singh welcomed the gathering while eminent writer Rajkumar Behrupia presented vote of thanks.